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Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implement the rights of the workers.

Inaugurating the national conference of Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) in Kathmandu on Sunday, PM Deuba reiterated that his government would leave no stone unturned for full enforcement of the contribution-based Social Security Act.

The private, formal and those involved in foreign employment would be included in social security, Deuba said, clarifying that the government was not led by his party Nepali Congress alone so it could not take decisions unilaterally.

“Based on the consensus forged in the current coalition government, the government will consider guaranteeing the labourers with all rights,” the executive Head of the Government assured.

Furthermore, the PM cited two recent moves of the incumbent government- increase in salary of the civil employees and social security to senior citizens reaching 68 years had also supported ensuring the rights of the labourers.

Calling for collective efforts to make the labour market activity, he pledged to work towards job creation for labourers hit hard due to the repercussions of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in the industrial sector.

Similarly, Nepal Trade Union Congress’ President Pushkar Acharya said that the Labour Act was introduced in 2074 BS during the leadership of Deuba and demanded its full implementation as he is in the same role now.

It may be noted that it is for the 5th time that Deuba has been serving as the Head of the Government.

“We would like to urge PM Deuba to deliver in terms of implementation of the Act,” he said. He demanded the establishment of the Labour Court in all seven provinces and to end the situation for the labourers having to come to the federal capital for minor works.

Likewise, senior vice-president Mahendra Prasad Yadav lamented that it was a matter of sorrow that Labour Commission mentioned in the Interim Constitution-2063 BS was removed from the Constitution promulgated through the Constituent Assembly in 2072 BS. He appealed to the Nepali Congress to incorporate the issues relating to the labourers in its statute.

The NTUC was established in 2033 BS. The union was led by former Prime Minister and NC President late Girija Prasad Koirala and had labourers working in a jute mill in Biratnagar.

Over 2,000 representatives from all 77 districts are participating in the two-day conference. The gathering will endorse NTUC’s policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2022/23.

Democratic Socialist Party leaders held a meeting with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at the latter's residence in Baluwatar on Monday.

Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur, Rajendra Mahato and Sharad Singh Bhandari among other leaders attend the meeting held this morning.

During the meeting, the leaders discussed the 11-point agreement the party had submitted to the Prime Minister on June 7 and the issues related to taking part in government among others, according to a source.

In its memorandum, the party had demanded that the government immediately provide citizenship certificates to the children of the naturalized citizens as per the constitution.

It also demanded withdrawal of false cases slapped against the party cadres during the Tharuhat and Madhesh movement and release of the arrested cadres including Resham Chaudhary in Mahottari and Kailali, amend the constitution, provide representation in local bodies, province assemblies and federal parliament on the basis of population, implement the idea of distributing budget on the basis of population density and make public the report of high-level probe commission led for former Supreme Court justice Girish Chandra Lal.

Likewise, the party also demanded that the government arrange fertilizers to the farmers and control inflation and black marketing and provide land ownership certificates to those who have not received yet.

Nagaland have charged 30 soldiers over the killing of civilians in a botched military operation last year, BBC reported.

The police said the soldiers resorted to "indiscriminate and disproportionate firing" when they shot at miners, mistaking them for militants. 

Six miners were killed in the firing last December near the Myanmar border. 

Eight more civilians and an Indian soldier died when angry locals confronted troops.

The shootings in the Mon district was the deadliest spell of violence in years in Nagaland, which has long been roiled by an insurgency led by local militant groups, according to BBC.

The Indian army has since apologised for the killings and ordered its own investigation. 

But protesters in the state have been also pressing for the government to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), a controversial federal law that gives the army sweeping powers, including protection from prosecution for soldiers who mistakenly kill civilians.

Police in India's Kashmir arrested a youth for posting a video threatening to behead a former spokesperson of India's ruling party who had made derogatory remarks about Islam's religious leader Prophet Mohammad, officials said on Sunday, Reuters reported.

The video, circulated on YouTube, has been withdrawn by authorities as part of a wider attempt to curb religious unrest that has spread across the country.

Muslims have taken to the streets to protest against anti-Islamic comments made by two members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in recent week. Read full story

Earlier this month, the BJP suspended its spokeswoman Nupur Sharma and expelled another leader, Naveen Kumar Jindal, for their controversial comments about the Prophet's private life that also angered several Muslim countries, causing a massive diplomatic challenge for the Modi government.

Police cases have been filed against the two former BJP officials.

Countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Iran which are key trade partners for India, lodged protests through diplomatic channels and used social media to demand an apology from the government.

India's foreign ministry said last week the tweets and comments do not reflect the views of the government.

Clashes over the remarks simmered across the country, as some in the minority Muslim community see them as the latest instance of pressure and humiliation under BJP rule on issues ranging from freedom of worship to the wearing of hijab head scarves.

Two teenagers were killed when protestors clashed with police in the eastern city of Ranchi last week.

Sporadic riots in northern Uttar Pradesh state forced police to arrest over 300 people. Read full story

In the eastern state of West Bengal, authorities enforced an emergency law prohibiting public gatherings in the industrial district of Howrah until June 16. At least 70 people were arrested on charges of rioting and disturbing public order, with Internet services suspended for over 48 hours after the latest communal violence.

BJP leaders have issued instructions to several senior members to be "extremely cautious" when talking about religion on public platforms and the government continues to tighten public security.